فَقَالَ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ يُؤْثَرُ 24
Translations
And said, "This is not but magic imitated [from others].
Transliteration
Faqala in hadha illa sihrun yu'tharu
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers of Mecca, upon hearing the Qur'an recited by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), dismissed it as 'nothing but magic that is transmitted' or 'magic that has been inherited.' According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah records the obstinate denial of the Meccan pagans who attributed the Qur'an's miraculous eloquence and rhetorical power to sorcery rather than acknowledging it as divine revelation. Their claim that it was 'inherited magic' (yu'tharu) suggests they accused the Prophet of learning magic from previous magicians, exemplifying their deliberate rejection of clear truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the context of Surah Al-Muddaththir, a Meccan chapter that addresses the disbelievers' various false accusations against the Qur'an and the Prophet. It is part of a series of responses to the Meccan opposition, illustrating the different excuses and denials they employed to reject the divine message despite its clarity and miraculous nature.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever accuses me of lying regarding the Qur'an, let him prepare a seat in the Fire' (a principle reflected in various hadith collections regarding those who deny the Qur'an). Additionally, Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:110 addresses similar accusations of witchcraft made against the message.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that those who reject truth often resort to baseless accusations and rationalizations rather than accepting clear guidance. It teaches us patience with those in denial and strengthens our conviction that the Qur'an's miraculous nature transcends human capability, serving as an eternal sign of Allah's truth.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَمْنُن تَسْتَكْثِرُ
And do not confer favor to acquire more.
وَٱلرُّجْزَ فَٱهْجُرْ
And uncleanliness avoid.
فَقُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ
So may he be destroyed [for] how he deliberated.
وَمَا جَعَلْنَآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ إِلَّا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةً ۙ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَيَزْدَادَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِيمَـٰنًا ۙ وَلَا يَرْتَابَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۙ وَلِيَقُولَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَمَا هِىَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْبَشَرِ
And We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And We have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve - that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is disease [i.e., hypocrisy] and the disbelievers will say, "What does Allāh intend by this as an example?" Thus does Allāh send astray whom He wills and guide whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And it [i.e., mention of the Fire] is not but a reminder to humanity.